--- Todd Bigelow - PS <tbigelow@pop.state.vt.us> wrote:
> Hmmmmmm.....let's exam some of these.....
>
> Barry Hauser wrote:
>
> > Boomer & Other Concerned & Outraged Citizens:
> >
> > If we wanted to get serious about this issue, it
> means facing certain facts
> > of (politica) life. Approaching from the position
> of disappointed and
> > unhappy specialty collectors won't work -- not a
> large enough of a
> > constituency. Politicians crave votes, not
> boatanchors. You have to play
> > their game by broadening the issue. You also have
> to use smoke and mirrors
> > to appear bigger than we are. Key saleable issues
> have to be simplified so
> > they work when converted to a much narrower
> bandwidth -- soundbites. A
> > considerable amount of tweaking is also in order,
> however in this realm
> > it's called spin-doctoring. Here are some
> thoughts:
>
> Understood, but getting down too much to 'their'
> level would make us look as
> slimey as them, so it would take some doing to do it
> properly.
>
> > 1. Stress the waste factor. The St. Julien's
> Creek Massacre is history.
> > What's happening now. High end receivers, of the
> few that got away from
> > the chipper shredder of hell go for upwards of
> $2000 at retail. If X units
> > of surplus are converted into Y tons of scrap at a
> value of Z, how much of
> > the taxpayer's money has been wasted vs. selling
> off at whatever average
> > price? Quantify the damage using appropriately
> steep factors. Is it on
> > the order of millions of dollars -- No, tens of
> millions - No, hundreds of
> > millions -- probably or more. Create some
> authoritative statistics --
> > horrifying ones possibly.
>
> Even if you just look at what is visible in Chuck's
> photos, I count close to
> 1,000 receivers (an something that looks like a
> T-368 deck sticking up). Even
> if these were sold at 'giveaway prices' by todays
> standards, say....$100,
> uncheck, you're still looking at $100K! Yes, I know
> - the gov't could(and
> probably would)waste twice that amount administering
> the program. Still,
> doubtful the R-390* is the terrorist's 'radio of
> choice', anymore than the M-1
> Garrand is a mugger's choice for a robbery. They
> need to be seen as a source of
> tax dollar recovery, to put it into terms that
> anyone can understand.
>
> > 2. Objective is headline fodder. "Government
> destroys five billion
> > dollars in X per year. Tax increases weighed!"
>
> See above
>
> > 3. Pre-emptory attacks on arguments, some of
> which have been expressed on
> > the list. Secret technology? Point out the same
> technology/circuitry in
> > commercial gear. Drawing attention to the China
> nuke espionage thing would
> > not be particularly productive. That can be
> thwarted by "two wrongs don't
> > make a right" simplelogic.
>
> It never works to point the finger back and say 'you
> did it here too', so I'd
> rather see arguements that apply good ol' common
> sense, that can't be argued
> with. Like 'Show me an incident where a surplus
> R-390 was used in a criminal
> activity', etc. If they can't support their
> position, they haven't one. Was
> just telling Ed though, it's too bad that 'common
> sense' isn't really common to
> all.
>
> > 4. Investigate and gather information.
> Information is ammunition.
> > Sightings of destruction, etc. Find out if any
> congressmen or federal
> > officials are hams or B/A or military vehicle
> enthusiasts. Even one or two
> > out of several hundred could help. But the key is
> mass appeal. A few BA
> > votes mean diddley squat.
>
> Been talking about this very thing with Joe Foley in
> private. ;)
>
> > 5. Organize and join up with other beneficiaries
> of the surplus market.
> > Surplus merchants for example. Other interest
> areas, such as vehicles,
> > etc. However, at the present time, one group that
> might be very helpful in
> > broadening the base is a problem due to the
> prevailing winds. Including
> > firearms right now might hurt the chances of
> saving the other stuff. It's
> > just the way it is and you have to recognize it.
> Politicians always make
> > these kinds of choices. If your really want to
> win the game you have to
> > play the game to win. Or we can just continue to
> cry over it all. Also
> > win what you can win while you can win it.
> >
>
> Agreed, but I (and probably most on this
> list)understand that radios/guns don't
> kill, criminals do. Winning involves participating
> though, and I find too many
> are unwilling to do *anything*. A.K.A 'fat and
> happy' syndrome.
>
> > 6. Structure a campaign which includes barrages
> of email, snail mail and
> > possibly press events -- like a demonstration line
> at a hamvention with
> > placards, etc. Something the TV and Newspaper
> people can photograph. This
> > should also include a battery of press releases.
> Journalists are always
> > looking for material, but you have to give them
> something they can sell.
>
> Part of the problem is the media - they are into the
> prevailing hype, not
> necessarily into facts or what is best. Just look at
> CNN's debacle last year
> with Peter Arnett. I'm not at all fond or trusting
> of the media. Unfortunately
> too many people are led like sheep, so getting media
> support would be vital.
>
> > 7. Develop a line of rhetoric tying this -- with
> validity and relevance or
> > spit and bailing wire if need be -- to other
> established and accepted
> > causes. Taxes, government waste, conservation,
> the public's rights to
> > technology/information, whatever fits and can be
> made to fit. Point out
> > how distribution of surplus down the food chain
> keeps 'em honest. (By
> > virtue of the '390's we have some idea that our
> government bought right at
> > least one time.) Contrasts with other stuff that's
> being sold or given to
> > foreign governments which is more questionable.
>
> Gotta be careful of the rhetoric part - plain facts
> that cause embarassment to
> the higher ups would be more effective. It's amazing
> how fast you get action
> once you draw attention to someone, especially in a
> campaign year. Been there,
> it works. ;)
>
> > 8. Rally round points -- a key disaster/massacre.
> St. Julien's Creek is
> > too old -- need something more recent, so the
> newscaster would sound like
> > "The wanton destruction of radio equipment that
> cost ten million dollars
> > took place here, behind the Tobyhanna (or
> wherever) facility. In a matter
> > of minutes, five hundred R-9999's were rendered
> into these (news guy lets
> > pile of pieces run through his hands). The pile
> is now worth five hundred
> > and fifty dollars. The government says that these
> R-9999's should not be
> > allowed to fall into unfriendly hands. However,
> the Zotz-9999A, a similar
> > commercial version, is being sold on the open
> market for $30,000 apiece.)
>
> This is fact, it only needs attention - repeated,
> stressed attention - backed
> up with the most disgusting proof of waste
> obtainable. I think harmless radios
> are right up there on the list.
>
>
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